Infertile, Childless, and Taking Back Control

If you’re childless after infertility or IVF and wondering how to move forward in a life that looks nothing like what you imagined, this episode of The “So Now What?” Podcast is for you.

You did everything you could to become a mother. You prayed, tried, hoped, and gave it your all. And now you're living in the aftermath of a dream that didn’t come true, with no guide for how to feel whole again.

Maybe the world has led you to believe that without children, your life is supposed to be quiet, sad, or incomplete. Perhaps you’ve been carrying that weight so long, it feels like part of your identity. But what if it isn’t?

In this episode, I’m offering you one of the most radical truths I’ve ever learned on the other side of IVF and infertility:

👉 You get to choose how you feel.

I share how I went from living reactively and constantly triggered by baby showers, pregnancy announcements, and other people’s comments, to learning how to stop bracing for emotional pain and start creating emotional freedom.

Inside, you’ll hear:

• Why you’re not wrong or broken for grieving the version of you that never became a mom

• How the grief of infertility includes not just a baby, but an identity, milestones, and meaning you expected to have

• How you’ve inherited outdated beliefs about women without children,  and how to stop wearing them like a stained old t-shirt

• What post-traumatic growth looks like when you’re ready to create purpose, peace, and joy without the children you dreamed of

• The power of choosing your thoughts, your emotions, and your next chapter

You don’t have to stay stuck in sadness or silence just because motherhood didn’t happen for you. And you don’t have to accept a narrative that was never written with your truth in mind. There’s a different path available...and I’ll help you find it.

✨ Resources to support your next steps:

📘 Get your copy of my #1 bestselling book, So Now What?
Rediscover purpose and meaning after infertility.
👉 Buy it now

🧭 Book your free 45-minute Thrive Call
Let’s create a personalized plan for what fulfillment can look like for you now, even though life turned out differently.
👉 Schedule your Thrive Call

💬 Download your free guide:
The Top 27 Things People Say When You’re Childless (and How to Respond)
Get real scripts to help you navigate intrusive questions and comments — without having to explain yourself.
👉 Download it here

📲 Let’s stay connected:
Instagram: @lana.manikowski
TikTok: @lana.manikowski
YouTube: Watch here
Website: lanamanikowski.com

You’re not less than.
You’re not invisible.
You’re just living a life no one taught you how to navigate.
But you don’t have to do it alone.

💛 If this episode speaks to you, share it with a friend or leave a review so more women who are childless not by choice can find the hope, healing, and community they deserve.